Students in the BGSU master’s in kinesiology program gather around a student running on a treadmill and measure his volume of oxygen consumption in the exercise physiology lab on our Ohio campus.

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies: Kinesiology

The BGSU master’s program in kinesiology emphasizes a broad study of human movement. Kinesiology graduate students study physical activity and its impact on health, society and quality of life.

This two-year program offers a rich variety of research and professional opportunities. You can travel, network in the field and have hands-on, practical experiences.

Core research and kinesiology courses are flexible to meet your individual professional or research goals. All students complete either a project, thesis or comprehensive exam. You will choose elective courses that will benefit your future career in sports performance, exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, sport and exercise psychology, biomechanics and many other areas within the field.

Program highlights

  • State-of-the-art, interactive learning facilities.
    • Biomechanics and Motor Behavior Laboratory
    • Exercise Physiology Lab
    • Body composition testing facilities including a BodPod and InBody
    • Sport and Exercise Psychology Lab
  • Lab experiences. Work with collegiate athletes and community members as you learn to test, program, assess and evaluate, as well as collect data for research studies.
  • Active research faculty. Kinesiology graduate students learn from some of the top experts and professionals in the field. You can travel with them to places like the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  • Wide range of research areas.
    • Biomechanics
    • Socio-cultural analyses of sports
    • Exercise physiology
    • Sport and exercise psychology
    • Fitness leadership
    • Strength and conditioning
    • Motor learning and development
  • Generous graduate assistantships. We do our best to help each admitted student find an assistantship that provides the best fit. Kinesiology master’s students can apply for graduate assistantships within the School of Applied Human Development. We also have relationships with other on-campus assistantship sites, including BGSU Ice Arena and BGSU Recreation and Wellness. There are off-campus assistantship opportunities as well.

Career opportunities

With a nationwide network of professional connections, the BGSU graduate program in kinesiology offers a clear pathway to professional opportunity in:

  • Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
  • Corporate wellness
  • Strength and conditioning
  • Sports performance
  • Wellness coaching
  • Research
  • Laboratory coordination
  • Gait and movement analysis

Career paths

  • Biomechanist
  • Health coach
  • Sport psychologist for performance enhancement
  • Strength and conditioning coach
  • Exercise physiologist
  • Researcher

Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

View Average Salaries

Curriculum

Courses in the kinesiology master’s program are planned on a two-year rotation. It is possible to graduate with three semesters of study.

In addition to core courses, students have the chance to complete an internship to gain experience.

You will work closely with your advisor to choose a focus area and decide whether to complete a thesis, master's project or comprehensive exam. 

Required courses

Three BGSU Kinesiology master's students practice strength exercises in a dedicated Fitness Center on our Ohio campus.

Sample courses

  • Interpretation of Quantitative Research in Human Movement, Sports and Leisure
  • Biomechanics
  • Gender, Sexuality and Sport
  • Applied Sport Psychology
  • Physiology of Exercise
  • Sport Conditioning
  • Motor Learning and Control
  • Motor Development
  • Laboratory Techniques in Exercise Physiology

BGSU College of Education and Human Development

The master’s degree in human movement, sport and leisure studies: kinesiology is a program of the School of Applied Human Development in the College of Education and Human Development.

Updated: 08/11/2024 06:58PM